Fence-post



(No Model.)

0. H; VAN WAGONER. FENCE POST.

No. 562,207. PatentedJune' 16, 1896.

NlTED STATES ,ATENT rion.

CHARLES: H. VAN wAcoN'ER, or HOMER, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 562,207, datedTT une 16, 1896. Application filed June 2; 1894. Renewed January 17, 1896. Serial No. 575,930. (No model!) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. VAN lVAG- ONER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Homer, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts,and I do hereby declare the following; to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. j

This invention relates to fence-posts, and it relates particularly to the construction of end posts for use in wire fences, where the strain of the wire incident to its being kept taut must be resisted by the end posts emp oy d- The object of the present invention is to produce afence-post of the kind referred to which will be simple and cheap in construction; which will occupy the minimum amount of space in transportation; which may rapidly be placed in position; and which will be of a construction to facilitate the tightening of the brace forming part of the post, without disturbing the fence, to compensate for sagging due to the strain of the wires to be attached to the post.

The invention consists of the fence-post constructed substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accomposed of metal, preferably steel, and is made angular in cross-section to afford the greatest strength and to avoid heavy and expensive constructions. For the purpose of securing the portion A in the ground, a transverse bar or rod (4 is provided, and is designed to prevent the withdrawal of the post from the ground when properly placed therein.

' B represents the brace portion of the post,

and it is of the same form and material as the post A, but is by preference slightly lighter in construction, and made to occupya smaller space than the post or main portion, so that wires stretched from post to post will not come in contact with the braces.

At the lower end of the brace B is a hook b, for the reception of a connection by which the brace is attached to the lower end of the main portion A.

At the upper end of the brace B is attached a removable end piece 0. This end piece is cast of a form to fit tightly at its outer end into the indented portion of the main part A of the post. At the outer end the end piece has a head 0-, and from this head extends a triangular neck 0 of a size to be received in the hollow portion of the brace B.

The brace B and the end piece 0 are each provided with openings through which projects the bolt D, this bolt being secured in place by a suitable nut.

In order to retain the parts Aand B of the post securely in their proper relative positions, and at the same time to furnish a simple means for tightening up the post to compensate for sagging, I-provide the two connections E, arranged, respectively, at the upper and the lower parts of the post. These connections are composed of twisted wire with loops 6 at each end. The upper connection "bears upon the upper face of the brace near its upper end, and at its lower end passes through an opening a in the main portion A, of the post. The loops of the lower connection engage the hook on the lower end of the brace and the lower end of the main por- .tion A of the post. s

From the foregoing it will be clear that when the parts are placed in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the parts A and B can be securely bound together by inserting a bar or rod between the strands of the wires forming the connections, and turning it to make the connections taut. It will also be apparent that any sagging or displacement can be taken up readily and without disarranging any part of the fence.

Having thus described my inventlonpwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A fence-post comprising a main substantially vertical portion, angular in cross-sec tion, a brace of similar form, of smaller dimensions, a head provided with a neck attached to the upper end of the brace, the head being of a size to fit tightly into the open side of the main portion, and connections for joining the main portion and the brace, substantially as described.

2. A fence-post comprising a main Vertical portion of metal angular in cross-section, a brace of metal also angular in cross-section, a head of a size to fit tightly in the open side of the main portion and having a reduced neck entering the open side of the brace at its end, and secured thereto, and connections composed of twisted wire having loops at their endsconnecting the main portion and the brace, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a fence-post of the main vertical portion composed of anglemetal, and having a transverse anchoringpin at its lower end, a brace composed of anglemetal of smaller size than the main portion, a head of a size and shape to it tightly in the open side of the main portion, and provided with a reduced neck attached to the upper end of the brace, and connections consisting of twisted Wire having loops at their ends, one connecting the upper end of the brace and the main portion at a point below the juncture of the brace and the main portion, and the other connecting the lower ends of the brace and main portions, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. VAN \VAGONER.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES R. MAINS, MYRoN H. NICHOLS. 

